Text extracted from Gill B.J.; Bell, B.D.; Chambers, G.K.; Medway, D.G.; Palma, R.L.; Scofield, R.P.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Worthy, T.H. 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Wellington, Te Papa Press and Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Pages 138-140. Order PELECANIFORMES: Pelicans, Gannets, Cormorants and Allies The close relationship between the families Sulidae, Phalacrocoracidae and Anhingidae has been supported by most recent work, however, the monophyly of the traditional larger grouping of Pelecaniformes is the subject of ongoing debate (e.g. Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, Johnsgard 1993, Christidis & Boles 1994, Kennedy et al. 2000, Livezey & Zusi 2001, van Tuinen et al. 2001, Fain & Houde 2004, Kennedy & Spencer 2004, Nelson 2005, Christidis & Boles 2008). For this reason we have separated Phaethontidae to its own order. We are aware that Pelecanus may be related to Ciconiiformes (see Christidis & Boles 2008), but we retain the traditional grouping in the absence of a resolution of these higher-level relationships. Given the uncertainty, the suborders and superfamilies followed by Checklist Committee (1990) have not been used here. Otherwise, a traditional approach to the families is retained, pending resolution of the issues. The sequence of pelecaniform families follows Checklist Committee (1990) for consistency, and agrees with del Hoyo et al. (1992). The sequence of species within families follows Checklist Committee (1990) unless noted. Family SULIDAE Reichenbach: Gannets and Boobies Sulinae Reichenbach, 1849: Avium Syst. Nat.: 6 – Type genus Sula Brisson, 1760. Morus and Sula are considered generically distinct (Olson 1985b, van Tets et al. 1988, BOU Records Committee 1991, Friesen & Anderson 1997, Nelson 2005). Genus Morus Vieillot Morus Vieillot, 1816: Analyse Nouv. Ornith. Elem.: 63 – Type species (by monotypy) Buffon’s “Fou de Bassan” = Pelecanus bassanus Linnaeus = Morus bassanus (Linnaeus). Moris J.R. Forster, 1817: Synop. Cat. Brit. Birds: 59. Unnecessary nomen novum for Morus Vieillot, 1816. Sulita Mathews, 1915: Austral Avian Rec. 2: 123. Unnecessary nomen novum for Morus Vieillot, 1816. Morus serrator Gray Australasian Gannet Sula Australis Gould, 1841: Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1840 (8): 177 – Tasmanian Seas. Junior primary homonym of Sula australis Stephens, 1826. Pelecanus serrator G.R. Gray, 1843: in E. Dieffenbach, Travels in N.Z. 2: 200 – no locality – vicinity of the Three Kings Islands (fide Medway 1993, Notornis 40: 69). Sula serrator (G.R. Gray); G.R. Gray 1845, in Richardson & J.E. Gray (eds), Zool. Voy. ‘Erebus’ & ‘Terror’, Birds 1(8): 19. Jula [sic] australis Gould; Ellman 1861, Zoologist 19: 7472. Not Sula australis Stephens, 1826. Dysporus serrator (G.R. Gray); Finsch 1867, Journ. für Ornith. 15: 339. Sula serrata; Finsch 1882, Ibis 6 (4th ser.): 402. Unjustified emendation. Sula serrator serrator (G.R. Gray); Mathews 1913, Austral Avian Rec. 2: 63. Sula serrator dyotti Mathews, 1913: Austral Avian Rec. 2: 63 – Tasmania, Australia. Morus serrator serrator (G.R. Gray); Mathews 1913, List Birds Australia: 98. Sulita serrator serrator (G.R. Gray); Mathews & Iredale 1921, Man. Birds of Australia 1: 77. Sulita serrator rex Mathews & Iredale, 1921: Man. Birds of Australia 1: 77 – New Zealand. Moris serrator (G.R. Gray); Oliver 1930, New Zealand Birds, 1st edition: 207. Sula bassana serrator (G.R. Gray); Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 28. Morus serrator rex; Howard & Moore 1980, Complete Checklist Birds World: 60. Morus serrator (G.R. Gray); Checklist Committee 1990, Checklist Birds N.Z.: 79. Pelecanus Sectator Solander, 1993: in Medway, Notornis 40: 66 – “Ocean which washes northern Australia. S.lat. 36–33 W.Long. 185–187”, error for vicinity of the Three Kings Islands (fide Medway 1993, Notornis 40: 69). Sula serrator rex (Mathews & Iredale); Medway 1993, Notornis 40: 66. Australia (breeding on islets off Tasmania and south-east Australia), Philip and Nepean Islands (Norfolk island Group) and New Zealand (Marchant & Higgins 1990, Nelson 2005). In New Zealand, breeds on outlying islands from Manawatäwhi / Three Kings Islands to Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Plenty and Tolaga Bay on the east coast of the North Island; Oaia, Motutara (Sugarloaf Rock at Muriwai Beach), and Karewa / Gannet Islands on the North Island west coast (Wodzicki et al. 1984). Cape Kidnappers (south end of Hawke’s Bay) and two colonies at Muriwai, opposite Motutara Island, are the only North Island mainland colonies (Wodzicki et al. 1984, Greene 2003). In the South Island, colonies are at Waimaru Bay (Pelorus Sound), Arapawa Island, Farewell Spit, The Nuggets and Little Solander Island (Marchant & Higgins 1990, Brown & Wilson 2004). Adult birds range widely in New Zealand seas during winter; juveniles and some adults disperse to coastal waters of Australia, as far west as the Indian Ocean, with vagrants to South Africa and north to New Caledonia (Wodzicki & Stein 1958, Wodzicki 1967, Marchant & Higgins 1990, Moore 1999, Robertson & Stephenson 2005). Stragglers reach the Chatham Islands (including one breeding record; Imber 1994, Miskelly et al. 2006), Snares / Tini Heke (Miskelly et al. 2001a), Auckland Islands and Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku (Kinsky 1969). Midden and Holocene fossil deposits: North, South and Chatham Islands (Millener 1991). 2 .